Cammack Leads Florida Delegation Calling for USDA Disaster Declaration After Historic Freeze

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Congresswoman Kat Cammack and all 29 members of Florida’s bipartisan congressional delegation are urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to immediately approve a USDA Disaster Declaration for Florida counties devastated by historic freezing temperatures in late January and early February.

The freeze struck during peak production for many of Florida’s major commodities, causing widespread and catastrophic losses across the state’s agricultural sector. A disaster declaration would unlock critical federal assistance for farmers and ranchers facing severe and ongoing recovery challenges.

“Florida supplies fresh produce to nearly 150 million Americans during the winter months, and when Florida agriculture is hit, the entire country feels it,” Cammack said. “This is a national security issue. A nation that cannot feed itself, cannot secure itself. This freeze caused widespread, historic, and devastating damage. Farmers are facing wiped-out crops, lost income, and months or even years of recovery through no fault of their own. A USDA Disaster Declaration is essential to get relief on the ground now and protect Florida agriculture and America’s food supply from collapsing under this blow,” said Congresswoman Cammack.

Agriculture is Florida’s second-largest economic sector, producing more than 300 commodities and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. During the late January and early February freeze, temperatures shattered long-standing city and county records. According to the USDA’s National Free On-Board Review, central Florida is already experiencing a strawberry shortage following extreme cold on February 2–3, 2026.

Beyond strawberries, significant losses are expected across a wide range of commodities, including citrus, vegetables, sugar cane, nurseries, apiaries, and aquaculture operations. Some impacts are expected to last months and, in some cases, extend into future growing seasons. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson estimates the freeze caused more than $1 billion in crop damage statewide.

In their letter, the bipartisan Florida delegation stressed the urgency of deploying disaster assistance and called on USDA and the Administration to work with Congress to ensure adequate funding to help producers recover.

Full text of the letter can be found here. 

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